ELC School Board approves K-Kids Program

April 15, 2013

The Estherville Lincoln Central Board of Education Monday night approved an agreement with Bedell Family YMCA for a Y-Kids Program that would held fill a childcare gap caused by Wednesday early outs for state-mandated teacher collaborative training.

The agreement would be from April 2013 to August 2014. It could provide programming before or after school, school early outs, snow days, school-out days and summer break programming.

Under the plan, the district would provide facilities for the YMCA director orientation and training, feedback on program staff performance and program promotion and publicity to students, community, staff and parents.

The YMCA would be responsible for hiring and paying program staff with a ratio of 1:15 staff members per student. The YMCA would also name a contact person who could serve as contact person for the district. Other YMCA duties would include maintaining student attendance, providing a syllabus of activities and events, adhering to a daily schedule, attending required meetings and meeting state childcare program standards.

"We're really looking forward to the opportunity and getting the program started next fall," said Norm Johnson, YMCA executive director.

Johnson said the program would be the same that Bedell Family YMCA has with Spirit Lake and Okoboji school districts and that the Y would take care of marketing. He said there would be information about financial assistance at signup. Superintendent Tara Paul said there has been community interest in sponsoring kids for the program.

"I think it's a great answer to a lot of questions," said board member Don Schiltz.